Mark Morrow Returns as Twin Valley Girls Basketball Coach

Mark Morrow, who led Twin Valley girls basketball to some of its greatest success, was approved to return as the Raiders' head coach last week.

Mark Morrow during his first coaching stint with Twin Valley. (Photo courtesy of Mark Morrow)

"I always knew I wanted to get back into it, at whatever level," Morrow said via phone Wednesday. "I had a great experience with Twin Valley the first time around. Tight community, good school, good kids, good parents. When I saw the opportunity come up, I figured, 'What better time than now?'"

Morrow coached the Raiders from 2015-2021, during which the team compiled a 121-45 record. Twin Valley secured two division titles, five Berks playoffs appearances, six district playoff berths, and four trips to the PIAA playoffs, winning two state games. 

The Raiders also made their first appearance in a district title game in the Class 5A championship in 2020, falling 46-40 to Gettysburg.

Morrow becomes one of five active Berks girls coaches with over 100 wins. The others: Berks Catholic's Bob Birmingham (669), Gov. Mifflin's Mike Clark (333), Schuylkill Valley's Jason Bagenstose (127), and Wyomissing's Aaron Anders (118).

During his first stint, Morrow coached an abundance of Raiders standout athletes, headlined by Berks legend Peyton McDaniel. Others included Natali Foster, Anna Kaplan, Taylor Knorr, Ashlynn and Morgan Lennon, his daughter Ava Morrow, Sophia Rasiul, and Julie Wallace.

Morrow, a Philadelphia native, lives in the Twin Valley area and is a graduate of Holy Family University, where he played on the men's basketball team. He also spent 10 years on the coaching staff of Holy Family's women's basketball program before coaching the Twin Valley boys basketball team from 2008-11.

Mark Morrow coaching up the Raiders during his first stint at Twin Valley. (Photo courtesy of Mark Morrow)

He currently works for Frito-Lay, where he has spent more than 30 years, and stepped away from coaching in 2021 to spend more time with family and watch daughter Ava's collegiate basketball career, also at Holy Family.

Morrow now takes over for Matt Hahn, who became the Raiders de facto head coach after a stint in an interim co-head coaching role with Deana Gorgone following Doug Myer's abrupt departure in the middle of the 2023-24 season. Myer, who is No. 3 all-time in Berks girls basketball wins with 361, succeeded Morrow when he stepped down after six seasons in 2021.

Hahn went 28-32 overall and 16-15 in league play in his two and a half seasons as head coach, including a 6-5 record in Berks II and 10-13 overall record last season.

"There's definitely talent there," Morrow said. "You can tell they've had a little bit of success, which is great to see. I love the kids in the school and love to see them have that success and have that pride."

The Raiders have qualified for the BCIAA playoffs the past two seasons, falling to Gov. Mifflin in the quarterfinals in 2025 and to Exeter in 2026. After winning the Berks II divisional crown in 2025, Exeter reclaimed the division from the Raiders this past season. Next season, Berks Catholic will join Conrad Weiser, Daniel Boone, Exeter, and Twin Valley in Berks II.

Morrow said he'll spend the coming months evaluating the roster and determining which systems best fit his personnel, but one aspect of his philosophy remains unchanged.

"I have a philosophy that you start with defense and then work your way out," Morrow said. "It's much easier to win a low-scoring game than it is a high-scoring game."

Mark Morrow during his first coaching stint with Twin Valley girls basketball. (Photo courtesy of Mark Morrow)

Morrow said the Raiders will focus on the defensive end first before building an offensive system around the strengths of the roster.

"We'll focus right away on the defensive end of the ball and then figure out what we have and what kind of system we can run," he said.

Hailey Kilgore, a two-time All-Berks selection and Shippensburg commit, has graduated. She finished her career with 1,163 points, the third-highest in Twin Valley history.

Morrow believes the cupboard's not bare.

Rising junior Olivia Kilgore (8.2 ppg, 21 3-pointers), Hailey's younger sister, and rising senior Lauren Williams (10.4 ppg, 13 3s) each return after being selected all-division last season.

"Olivia is a very talented player, and Lauren is just a tremendous athlete," he said. "I've been impressed with Lauren's athleticism since eighth grade. Those are two very good pieces to work around."

Morrow is also in the process of assembling his coaching staff and said he hopes to include a former Raider in the program.

Mark Morrow consoles his team after a loss to Gettysburg in the district championship. (Photo courtesy of Mark Morrow)

"I'd like one of them to be an alum involved in coaching somehow," Morrow said. "I think it's really important for these kids to know it's their program and not mine."

Morrow said he wants to continue building a culture that encourages former players to stay connected to the program and pursue coaching opportunities of their own.

As for the program's immediate goals, Morrow isn't looking far ahead.

"We've got to win our first game," he said. "I know that sounds very cliché, but new coach, probably new system, that's so far down the road we can't even start thinking about that.

"If you keep your head down and keep doing the right things, eventually you look up and you're in a position where maybe you'll win a Berks II championship, a Berks championship or a district championship. But you can't get there until you do so many other small things along the way."